ArtiFACT Friday- October 24, 2014
A Legend Comes to Town…
Dayton, the Gem City, is perhaps most well-known for centuries of innovation and industrial prowess, but that’s not all. Over the last two centuries, Dayton has grown its fair share of successful ball players too. In the late 1800s, Daytonians like William “Steamboat Bill” Otey and Daniel Bickham played professionally for teams in the major leagues. Throughout the 1900’s, many more Daytonians like William “The Rocket” Clemens, Howard “Ducky” Holmes and William “Dutch” Ussat earned the opportunity to play baseball in the major leagues for teams like the St. Louis Cardinals, the Cleveland Indians and the New York Yankees. Perhaps some of these local grown stars were inspired when legendary players like George Herman “Babe” Ruth, Jr. would visit Dayton during various publicity tours. Pictured here is “The Bambino” standing outside the Hotel Moraine in downtown Dayton, circa 1938. This photograph is from the William Preston Mayfield/Marvin Christian Collection at Dayton History.
To see other historical images from our collection, search our Digital Photo Archive.
ArtiFACT Friday- October 17, 2014
A Crowd Gathers…
Daytonians are no strangers to the game of baseball, though the game’s popularity has ebbed and flowed here as in other cities. In peak times the city’s residents would clamor for access, whether it be at the local ball field or via the local newspapers’ many articles and game statistics lists. Crowds of men and women were even known to gather on city streets to watch a hand operated scoreboard, play out important games played elsewhere nationwide in near real time. This image shows one such event, where a large crowd of mostly young boys and men have gathered on the street and sidewalks beside the Dayton Journal Herald newspaper offices to watch the results of an All-Star Baseball Game. This photograph is from the William Preston Mayfield/Marvin Christian Collection at Dayton History.
To see other historical images from our collection, search our Digital Photo Archive.
ArtiFACT Friday- October 10, 2014
Dayton Baseball in Action…
Daytonians were no strangers to baseball. Over the years, the city has been home to many teams, both amateur and semi-professional. Back in the day, not only did every school have their own team, but so did most of the larger corporations and factories. Factories like National Cash Register, Dayton Metal Products, Frigidaire, and the Gebhart Folding Box Company all had company teams that played throughout the city. Organizations like the Y.M.C.A., the Dayton State Hospital and the Buz Fuz Club all fielded teams that would practice and play against each other throughout the summer months as well. At the professional and semi-professional levels, teams like the Dayton Gem City’s, Dayton Indians, Dayton Ducks, Dayton Marcos (Negro National League), and more recently the Dayton Dragons have called our fair city home. Pictured here is an unidentified outfielder, sporting a pin-striped uniform, as he jumps to catch a ball in flight. Signs along the fence row advertise local businesses like Anchor Paints, Olt Bros. Brewing Company and Coca-Cola, dating this photograph to the early 1900s. This photograph is from the William Preston Mayfield/Marvin Christian Collection at Dayton History.
To see other historical images from our collection, search our Digital Photo Archive.
ArtiFACT Friday- October 3, 2014
America’s National Pastime…
While the origins of America’s favorite pastime may be contested, one fact is certain; Americans have had a long-time love affair with the sport of baseball. Though Abner Doubleday is officially credited with inventing baseball in Cooperstown, New York in 1839, boys and even girls of all ages and from all walks of life have played pick-up games of baseball in open fields and empty city lots across the nation for centuries. Ohioans have played an important role in baseball’s heritage, having fielded one of the first all-professional teams in the nation, known as the Cincinnati Red Stockings, as far back as 1869. While these folks are not professionals, pictured here is an image taken during one such spontaneous game, featuring a group of young men and women running the bases in an unidentified open field. Judging by the clothing worn by the players, the image would date to the early 1900s. This photograph is from Dayton History’s Image Collection.
To see other historical images from our collection, search our Digital Photo Archive.